Self-reclosing cap for containers

ABSTRACT

A self-reclosing cap, preferably of plastic, is described which has a pouring aperture providing access to the contents of a bottle or other container with which the cap is used, and a sliding cover for the aperture which cover is normally closed by elastic cord and can be slid back by the user against the tension of the elastic cord to uncover the aperture.

United States Patent [1 1 Kessler SELF-RECLOSINC CAP FOR CONTAINERS [76] Inventor: Gerald Kessler, 388 Cranberry Rd.,

Beardman, Ohio 22 Filed: Nov. 20, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 307,780

[52] US. Cl 222/511, 222/561, 220/41, 215/78 [51] Int. Cl..., G0lf 11/00 [58] Field of Search... 222/142.7, 511, 561; 215/78; 220/41 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,653 5/1940 Glidden 222/511- 3,332,586 7/1967 Amburgey 222/561 X 1111 3,792,803 1451 Feb. 19, 1974 1,194,186 8/1916 Kendall 222/511 2,127,911 8/1938 Goss et al. 222/511 6/1906 Williamson et al 222/511 X Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Joseph J. Rolla Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max L. Libman 57 Y ABSTRACT A self-reclosing cap, preferably of plastic, is described which has a pouring aperture providing access to'the contents of a bottle or other container with which the cap is used, and a sliding cover for the aperture which cover is normally closed by elastic cord and can be slid back by the user against the tension of the elastic cord to uncover the aperture.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SELF -RECLOSING CAP FOR CONTAINERS This invention relatesto a cover for small containers such as are used with pills, powders, etc., as it ispreferably adapted for use with non-liquid materials, although it could under some circumstances be used as a closure for liquid contents. The chief requirements for such containers is the ability to be manufactured with a neat and attractive appearance, combined with low cost. The present invention enables both of these desirable features to be readily combined in a simple cap, which has only three readily molded parts which can be assembled in a very simple manner.

In accordance with the invention, a cap, preferably of plastic material, is provided with an aperture, which is normally covered by a sliding plastic member which slides in a groove or undercut in the top of the cap so as to cover and uncover the aperture, and is normally retained in the cover position by the tension of a thin elastic cord which is anchored at both ends but fastened at its center to the sliding member so that it provides the necessary closing tension.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a bottle having a cap according to the invention, in the closed position of the slider;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the slider retracted so as to open the cap;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of slider.

The invention is shown asapplied to a bottle 2 to which the cap 4 is affixed in any known non-removable manner, as by heat and pressure, or simply by providing a very stiff snap-on cap of known type, or by spinwelding. The configuration shown in the drawing is merely intended to indicate that the cap is not normally removable. The cap is provided with an aperture 6, through which pills or powder can be removed, the aperture being, of course, made sufficiently large for this purpose. Normally, the aperture is covered by a sliding cover which slides in an undercut groove 11 in the top of the cap. The sliding cover 10 is normally biased in the closing position shown in FIG. 1, by an elastic cord or bow-string which is fastenedto the slider near its midpoint, as shown at 13, and is anchored at its ends 14, in any suitable manner, but conveniently by providing an enlarged node at each end of the cord 12 which can be snapped into a suitable recess molded into the top of the plastic cap 4. A suitable recess 15 is also provided in the'top of the cap for accommodating the cord 12 in its drawn position shown in FIG. 2, so that the cord is always below the top of the cap. The slider 10 is preferably provided with an indented thumb nail groove 16, which may conveniently be near the end of the slider, and may be engaged by the finger or nail of the user to facilitatewithdrawal of the slider.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic cord 12 can be molded directly into the slider, or, more simply, the slider 10 can be provided with an undercut notch as shown at 17 in FIG. 5, so that the cord can simply be inserted therein as the cap is being assembled. Preferably the dimensions are such that the elastic cord 12 is assembled under a slight tension so that it acts positively to keep the slider in the closed position except when it is retracted by the user. By making the slider of suitably elastic material, it is also possible to mold it and the cord 12 as a single piece of the same material so that the cap requires only the assembly of two pieces instead of three.

I claim:

1. A self-reclosing dispensing cap for containers comprising a. a cylindrical side wall portion and a top portion,

b. means for fastening said side wall portion to a container,

c. a dispensing aperture in said top portion,

d. said top portion having an undercut side groove in its upper side and a slidable cover member slidably retained in said groove,

e. said cover member normally covering said aperture in a first position and being slidable to a second position in said groove to uncover the aperture,

f. said cover having a recess in its top for receiving an elongated elastic cord extending transversely across said cover member in the said first position of the cover member,

g. said cord being fixed to said top at its ends and to said cover member at its central portion, under sufficient tension to retain said cover member in said first position when no external force is exerted on said cover member to slide it to the open position,

h. said elastic cord having knob-like enlarged portions at its ends, and corresponding recesses in the top of said cover for receiving and firmly retaining said enlarged portions to thereby anchor the ends of the elastic cord to the cap.

2. A self-reclosing dispensing cap for containers c0mprising a. a cylindrical side wall portion and a top portion,

b. means for fastending said side wall portion to a container, 1

c. a dispensing aperture in said top portion,

d. said top portion having an undercut slide groove in its upper side and a slidable cover member slidably retained in said groove,

e. said cover member normally covering said aperture in a first position and being slidable to a second position in said groove to uncover the aperture,

f. said cover having a recess in its top for receiving an elongated elastic cord extending transversely across said cover member in the said first position of the cover member,

g. said cord being fixed to said top at its ends and to said cover member at its central portion, under sufficient tension to retain said cover member in said first position when no external force is exerted on said cover member to slide it to the open position,

h. said cover member having finger engaging means engageable by the finger of a user to slide the cover member to open position against the tension of the the central portion of said elastic cord. 

1. A self-reclosing dispensing cap for containers comprising a. a cylindrical side wall portion and a top portion, b. means for fastening said side wall portion to a container, c. a dispensing aperture in said top portion, d. said top portion having an undercut side groove in its upper side and a slidable cover member slidably retained in said groove, e. said cover member normally covering said aperture in a first position and being slidable to a second position in said groove to uncover the aperture, f. said cover having a recess in its top for receiving an elongated elastic cord extending transversely across said cover member in the said first position of the cover member, g. said cord being fixed to said top at its ends and to said cover member at its central portion, under sufficient tension to retain said cover member in said first position when no external force is exerted on said cover member to slide it to the open position, h. said elastic cord having knob-like enlarged portions at its ends, and corresponding recesses in the top of said cover for receiving and firmly retaining said enlarged portions to thereby anchor the ends of the elastic cord to the cap.
 2. A self-reclosing dispensing cap for containers comprising a. a cylindrical side wall portion and a top portion, b. means for fastending said side wall portion to a container, c. a dispensing aperture in said top portion, d. said top portion having an undercut slide groove in its upper side and a slidable cover member slidably retained in said groove, e. said cover member normally covering said aperture in a first position and being slidable to a second position in said groove to uncover the aperture, f. said cover having a recess in its top for receiving an elongated elastic cord extending transversely across said cover member in the said first position of the cover member, g. said cord being fixed to said top at its ends and to said cover member at its central portion, under sufficient tension to retain said cover member in said first position when no external force is exerted on said cover member to slide it to the open position, h. said cover member having finger engaging means engageable by the finger of a user to slide the cover member to open position against the tension of the elastic cord, i. said elastic cord having enlarged portions at its ends, and corresponding recesses in said cover for receiving and firmly retaining said enlarged portions to thereby anchor the ends of the elastic cord to the cap, j. and a transverse undercut groove in said slidable cover member for firmly receiving and retaining the central portion of said elastic cord. 